gold-rush
UK[ˈɡəʊld rʌʃ]US[ˈɡoʊld rʌʃ]
n
a situation when a lot of people suddenly go to a place where gold has been discovered, hoping to find gold and become rich
n
a situation in which many people suddenly try to get or do something because they expect to gain an advantage from it
Morpheme Breakdown
gold
rush
gold
precious metal
rush
sudden movement
Etymology
The compound 'gold-rush' is a transparent combination of two English words, 'gold' and 'rush', to create a vivid metaphorical term. The first element, 'gold', traces back to Proto-Germanic gulþą, a term for the precious yellow metal that has been highly valued since antiquity. The second element, 'rush', evokes the sudden, frantic, and often disorderly movement of people. The term was coined in the mid-19th century, specifically to describe the mass migrations to newly discovered gold fields, such as the California Gold Rush of 1849. Its meaning has since broadened metaphorically to describe any frenzied competition for a newly available valuable resource or opportunity.
Analysis
Structure: gold (precious metal) + rush (sudden movement)
- gold: From Old English 'gold', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'goud' and German 'Gold'. Functions as a noun denoting the precious metal.
- rush: From Middle English 'ruschen', likely imitative of the sound of moving quickly. Functions as a noun denoting a sudden rapid movement or surge.
Examples
The discovery of gold in California triggered a massive gold-rush in 1849.
The tech startup's successful IPO created a modern gold-rush among investors.
Historians study the social and environmental impact of the Klondike gold-rush.